In French, perdre means "to lose" something, while se perdre means "to get lost" oneself. The reflexive pronoun se indicates that the subject is performing the action on themselves.
- perdre = to lose (something)
- se perdre = to get lost (oneself)
Perdre
Perdre is a transitive verb that requires a direct object — something that is lost. You cannot say perdre* without specifying what is being lost.
- Je perds mes clés. (I lose my keys.)
- Elle a perdu sa patience. (She lost her patience.)
- Nous avons perdu le match. (We lost the match.)
Se perdre
Se perdre* is a pronominal (reflexive) verb. The action reflects back on the subject, meaning "to get oneself lost." It is more about the subject's state or situation rather than losing an object.
- Je me perds dans cette ville. (I get lost in this city.)
- Ils se sont perdus dans la forêt. (They got lost in the forest.)
- Ne te perds pas en chemin ! (Don't get lost on the way!)
Translate: Ne te perds pas en chemin !
Don't get lost on the way!
"Ne te perds pas" is a reflexive imperative meaning "don't get lost." "En chemin" means "on the way."
Key Differences
- perdre* requires a direct object (something that is lost).
- se perdre* does not take a direct object; it means the subject becomes lost.
- se perdre* is always reflexive and often describes a location or situation.
Summary
- Use perdre when talking about losing objects, games, time, or abstract things.
- Use se perdre when someone gets lost physically or metaphorically.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
